Press Release: 24-hour tutoring service aids deaf college students

From: Gallaudet - Aug 20, 2004

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For more information, contact:
Darrick Nicholas
Media Relations Coordinator
Gallaudet University
PH: 202.448.7136
E-mail: darrick.nicholas@gallaudet.edu

GALLAUDET KICKS OFF ONLINE TUTORING SERVICE
Students can access virtual study hall 24 hours a day, seven days a week

(WASHINGTON) For deaf and hard of hearing students at Gallaudet University, help with their studies is only a click away, no matter the time of day.

Just in time for the new school year, the university has partnered with SMARTHINKING to provide tutoring and academic support online. The service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

"For many college students, 'burning the midnight oil' is commonplace. Gallaudet is no different," Darrick Nicholas, university spokesperson, said. "This program guarantees around-the-clock academic support for our students."

Through the service, students will be able to receive guidance in subjects such as math, writing, chemistry, physics, biology, statistics, economics and accounting.

"Online tutoring allows an unprecedented level of convenience and support," Eileen Matthews, associate dean of Academic Programs and Support Services at Gallaudet, said. "Students and parents are thrilled to know that someone is always available to help in the subjects that students are most likely to struggle with."

Through the SMARTHINKING website, students may ask questions of trained, qualified e-structors (tutors) by "dropping-in," submitting questions for next-day response and pre-scheduling sessions. In addition, all interactions are saved, permitting on-demand review and analysis by the student or institution. In the past two years, SMARTHINKING has provided more than 300,000 online tutoring sessions to more than 70,000 students from more than 300 schools.

About Gallaudet University
The mission of Gallaudet University is to serve as a comprehensive, multipurpose institution of higher education for deaf and hard of hearing citizens of the United States and of the world. In addition to its undergraduate and graduate academic programs, the University also offers national demonstration elementary and secondary education programs. The only liberal arts university in the world designed exclusively for deaf and hard of hearing students, Gallaudet University is located in Washington, DC.